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2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Previewed by Concept in Geneva

The concept that previewed the tenth-generation US-spec Civic made its debut at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. As for the production version of the concept, it definitely looks the part. But now it’s time for Honda to tease the European variant of the next-gen Civic and here it is, gentlemen, straight from the Geneva Motor Show.
2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva 25 photos
Photo: Guido ten Brink / SB-Medien
2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype live in Geneva
Just look at the thing and try to fool yourself into thinking “Nuh-uh, the current Honda Civic is the more handsome of the two.” What does it for me is the swage line running along the side of the concept, a line that incorporates the door handles before it crescendos into the LED-accented taillight. It’s absolutely gorgeous in its swept-back posture.

The lower character line adds to the visual drama, giving the 2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Concept a forward-leaning stance that hasn’t been replicated by many other hatchbacks before it. I find the rear just a little busy for my liking, but I won’t say no to all those tense creases.

Things get a little more familiar to the front, where Honda played it safe and simple. Rumor on the street is that the 2017 Honda Civic will replicate most of what you see here, even the dual exit exhaust system. As I’m sure you already know, the tenth-gen Civic comes in four-door sedan and two-door coupe flavors. With the five-door model, the Civic family will be complete, and yes, the hatch will be sold in the US as well.

Compared to the outgoing model, the Honda Civic X hatchback will be 30 mm wider, 20 mm lower, and 130 mm longer. On the powertrain front, three engines will have to do at launch: 1.0 VTEC Turbo three-cylinder, 1.5 VTEC Turbo four-cylinder, and an oil-burning 1.6-liter i-DTEC four-cylinder. Production will be handled by Honda UK Manufacturing, a facility that manufactures the ninth-gen Civic and the CR-V crossover.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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